Lead-Acid Battery Enterprises Produce Based on Sales, with Export Orders Lagging [SMM Lead-Acid Battery Weekly Production Review]

SMM March 21 News: It is understood that the weekly comprehensive operating rate of lead-acid battery enterprises in five provinces, as tracked by SMM, was 74.08% from March 15 to March 21, 2025, down 0.26 percentage points WoW. The e-bike and automotive battery replacement market will enter the traditional off-season from March to April. Major producers generally maintain a produce based on sales approach. Recently, with the continuous rise in lead prices, the production costs for battery companies have increased. Some companies, in order to reduce unit consumption costs, keep their production lines running at full capacity during production periods, while also taking 1-2 breaks within the month to balance finished product inventory levels. Additionally, the current SHFE/LME lead price ratio has expanded, which is unfavorable for the export of lead-acid batteries. Export-oriented companies in regions such as Guangdong and Zhejiang report poor orders, with their production line operating rates mostly at 60-70%, and some are planning to halt production and take a break at month-end.